NEW DELHI, Feb 26 (Reuters) – Coal India, the
world’s No. 1 coal miner, will have to settle for an annual
output growth of just 30 million tonnes for the next few years
instead of a possible 300 million until railway tracks are ready
to carry the fuel from new mines.

The subdued growth target from the company that controls 80
percent of India’s total output means imports will continue to
rise as demand surges, benefiting top suppliers Indonesia,
Australia, South Africa and the United States.

NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR (Reuters) – The coal ministry is taking back 31 coal blocks allocated to private firms including the Tata group and Jindal Steel and Power (JNSP.NS: Quote, Profile, Research) over delays in developing them, jeopardising billion-dollar projects and inviting warnings of legal action.

The ministry, reviewing some 61 coal blocks allocated over the past decade that have not started production yet, announced on Tuesday it is reclaiming about half as companies have failed to meet milestones. The companies say delays in getting some government clearances hampered work on the blocks.

NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR, India, Feb 19 (Reuters) – India’s
coal ministry is taking back 31 coal blocks allocated to private
firms including the Tata group and Jindal Steel and Power
over delays in developing them, jeopardising
billion-dollar projects and inviting warnings of legal action.

The ministry, reviewing some 61 coal blocks allocated over
the past decade that have not started production yet, announced
on Tuesday it is reclaiming about half as companies have failed
to meet milestones. The companies say delays in getting some
government clearances hampered work on the blocks.

NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR, Feb 18 (Reuters) – Two Coal India
units that together account for a third of its
production expect double-digit growth in output next fiscal year
as they use more sophisticated machinery and expand mines,
officials at the units said on Tuesday.

The expected production jump will help India keep a lid on
imports of coal, which have surged in recent years due to
regulatory, environmental and land acquisition delays in
starting new mines at home.

NEW DELHI, Feb 18 (Reuters) – Coal India unit
Western Coalfields expects to raise output by 10 percent to 44
million tonnes in the next fiscal year due to the use of more
sophisticated machinery in its mines, the unit’s chairman said
on Tuesday.

Western Coalfield’s first potential output increase in five
years will help India keep a lid on costly imports of coal at a
time its parent is struggling to boost production.

NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR, India (Reuters) – The ministry of mines has rejected suggestions by a powerful government panel to ban exports of iron ore and limit output from the Odisha, dispelling fears the country’s top producer faced curbs similar to those imposed elsewhere.

The bans in two other producing states, Karnataka and Goa, have helped spur sales by miners from Australia, Brazil and South Africa, pushing India to ninth place last year among world exporters of the steelmaking raw material to top market China.

NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR, India, Feb 12 (Reuters) – India’s
mines ministry has rejected suggestions by a powerful government
panel to ban exports of iron ore and limit output from the
eastern state of Odisha, dispelling fears the country’s top
producer faced curbs similar to those imposed elsewhere.

The bans in two other producing states, Karnataka and Goa,
have helped spur sales by miners from Australia, Brazil and
South Africa, pushing India to ninth place last year among world
exporters of the steelmaking raw material to top market China.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – The weak rupee cut India’s imports of coal, the fuel that provides almost 60 percent of its electricity, by 33 percent in January from the same month last year, data from leading research group OreTeam showed on Monday.

Struggling domestic coal output has meant that India has jumped to the number three global importer, behind China and Japan. It is less reliant on imports of coking coal for its steel industry.

NEW DELHI, Feb 10 (Reuters) – The weak rupee cut India’s
imports of coal, the fuel that provides almost 60 percent of its
electricity, by 33 percent in January from the same month last
year, data from leading research group OreTeam showed on Monday.

Struggling domestic coal output has meant that India has
jumped to the number three global importer, behind China and
Japan. It is less reliant on imports of coking coal for its
steel industry.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Goa expects to resume mining before monsoon that starts in June, its chief minister said on Monday, but this may not mean an immediate resumption in shipments from what used to be the country’s top iron ore exporter.

A ban on mining and exports in September 2012 to clamp down on illegal mining in Goa, coupled with a similar step in neighbouring Karnataka, has slashed output and shipments from India.

About Krishna

"I lead the India commodities team for Reuters in New Delhi. I cover the coal, metals and mining industries with a focus on government policy. Before coming to the capital in April 2013, I headed two teams of reporters covering small-and-medium-sized U.S./Canada-listed energy and resources companies."